Tinubu Celebrates Pastor Kumuyi at 85, Hails Deeper Life’s Global Impact

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, June 7, 2026, celebrated Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi, founder of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, on his 85th birthday, describing the revered clergyman as a man of extraordinary faith whose global impact on Christianity remains unmatched.

In a statement released by the Presidency, Tinubu praised Kumuyi’s over five decades of ministry, saying the pastor’s dedication to biblical teaching, personal holiness, and evangelical outreach had transformed millions of lives across Nigeria and in more than 100 countries where the Deeper Life Ministry operates. The president described the clergyman as a national treasure and a symbol of moral consistency in public life.

‘Pastor Kumuyi’s life and ministry represent the very best of faith in action,’ Tinubu said in the statement, adding that Nigeria was proud to call him one of her most distinguished sons. The Deeper Life Bible Church confirmed Kumuyi’s 85th birthday and said the ministry would mark the occasion with special thanksgiving services across its global branches.

A Legacy of Holiness and Evangelical Work
Kumuyi founded the Deeper Life Bible Church in 1973 as a Bible study group at the University of Lagos, where he lectured as a mathematics professor. The church has since grown into one of Africa’s largest Pentecostal denominations with millions of members worldwide. Throughout his ministry, Kumuyi has maintained a reputation for strict adherence to biblical principles and has consistently stayed away from political controversy.

However, the birthday celebration comes at a moment of acute national tension, with several security crises unfolding simultaneously across Nigeria. Still, religious leaders and civil society groups said the celebration of Kumuyi’s life offered a moment of reflection and hope for Nigerians grappling with hardship and insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria President, Pastor Samuel Oladele, also used the occasion to criticise Nigerian leaders for failing to deliver on their electoral promises, saying ordinary citizens were bearing the brunt of economic hardship and insecurity. Furthermore, Nollywood actress Hilda Dokubo publicly criticised President Tinubu over the growing insecurity crisis, saying Nigerians needed action rather than sermons. Notably, her comment echoed a rising chorus of voices from across the creative and civil society space demanding more decisive leadership from the federal government.

Ogun State Pilgrims Praise Abiodun for Hajj Flights
In related news, Ogun State pilgrims praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for facilitating direct flights from Makkah to the Gateway International Airport in Ogun State after the conclusion of the 2026 Hajj, reducing the burden of transit connections for returning pilgrims. Consequently, the Hajj season, which brought over 8,500 Nigerian pilgrims to the Holy Land this year, ended on a logistical high note for Ogun, even as the broader national security situation continued to dominate public discourse.